By: Millicent
In Hamlet both Hamlet and Ophelia are able to speak freely behind the mask of their madness. The reaction that Hamlet and Ophelia have regarding their fathers’ deaths is what drives them mad. Hamlet and Ophelia are also both children of controlling parents, and they are contrived to do things they do not want to do. Their madness both leads them to their deaths. Although Hamlet and Ophelia are very different from one another, their madness serves a central purpose to mask and disguise their emotional agony but it ultimately leads to their tragic deaths.
The death of Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s father prompts their madness. The day
Hamlet realizes that his father’s murderer is his stepfather and uncle, overwhelms him that he suggests to feign madness, “As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an antic disposition on.” (I. V. 172-173) He pretends to be mad so that he can safely investigate who the murderer is of his father without alarming others for his snooping. In today's society, if someone assumes an individual is crazy, they can escape the consequences, which is truly an ingenious plan for Hamlet. As for Ophelia’s madness, it begins when she realizes that her father is dead, “He is dead and gone, lady, / He is dead and gone, / At his head a grass-green turf, / At his heels a stone. / Oh, ho!” (IV. V. 26-30)
She has a bad habit of constantly granting her father’s wishes without question, and heavily relies upon her father’s guidance. As a result, she loses her mind when he is gone.
Hamlet’s and Ophelia’s loss for their fathers initiates their madness whether feigned or not.
Both Hamlet and Ophelia have parents who use controlling behaviours, in which compel them to commit to jobs they have no desire to do. Hamlet’s father, Elderly

Hamlet who is murdered by his brother Claudius, reappears in apparition, “But howsoever thou pursuest this act, / Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive / Against thy mother aught.” (I. V. 84-86) The Ghost of Elderly Hamlet reveals every detail about the punishment he suffers, in which rouses Hamlet forward. However, although Hamlet has the passion to avenge his father’s death, he is not ready, “Upon whose property and most dear life / A damned defeat was made. / Am I a coward?” (II. II. 525-530) Hamlet seems to be in a contrived state due to the Ghost’s orders, which he relies upon his feigned madness for assistance. Additionally, Ophelia’s father, Polonius prevents Ophelia from seeing her lover Hamlet. Polonius manipulates her to try and solidify his and her position in the court, “’Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star. / This must not be.’ / And then I prescripts gave her, / That she should lock herself from his resort, / Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.” (II. II. 132-135) Ophelia obeys her father’s wishes without question even though she still wants to see Hamlet, which ultimately leads to her true insanity. Hamlet and Ophelia’s controlling parents contrives them to do things they do not want to do, but have to commit.
The madness Hamlet and Ophelia experiences eventually lead to their deaths.
Hamlet pretending to be mad directs Ophelia to true insanity, and a chain reaction leading to his death, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!” (III. IV. 24) That is, Hamlet feigning madness rouses his mind without hesitation to execute Polonius, which prompts
Ophelia’s true insanity. Not only that, it escalates Laertes’ revenge for his father’s murder as well as his sister’s insanity. Additionally, leading up to the death of Hamlet, Claudius is fully aware that Laertes is angry for the death of his father and Ophelia’s suicide that he makes Laertes an easy pawn to manipulate, “If it be so, Laertes— As how should it be

so? How otherwise? — / Will you be ruled by me?” (IV. VII. 56-58) Claudius takes advantage of Laertes’ to get rid of Hamlet so that he can keep his position sturdy, which sets up Hamlet’s death. Additionally, Ophelia’s true insanity leads to her suicide, in that after her father’s death, she approaches the king and queen with songs about death, love and sex, “How should I your true love know / From another one? / White his shroud as the mountain snow—.” (IV. V. 19-32) She is mourning for her father’s death, and reveals feelings of pain and betrayal for the love she gave Hamlet, in which is unrequited love.
That being said, due to her loss of a father, and a man with whom has lost interest in her, she has no one to confide to, which she commits suicide. Hamlet feigning madness and
Ophelia’s true insanity ultimately lead to their tragic deaths.
Hamlet reveals the truth of the mask of madness allowing Hamlet and Ophelia to speak freely. Hamlet and Ophelia’s reaction regarding the executions of their fathers prompts their madness. Both Hamlet and Ophelia have controlling parents who plot what they can and cannot do. Hamlet feigning madness and Ophelia’s true insanity leads them to their tragic deaths. Despite the differences between Hamlet and Ophelia, their madness whether feigned or real serves a central purpose to hide and conceal their emotional agony, however, it eventually leads to their tragic deaths.